Field data (Sightings)

[Ron Gatrelle]

I have logs that go back decades filled with field data. I've been making
records for each trip for decades. Weather (% of sun, precipitation,
temps ), time of day, specific sites, species seen list (one - three,
common, many, abundant), nectar sources, flight habits. For collected
specimens the exact number of males and females of each species - and often
a reference to their condition.

Collected specimens are counted at home. Everything else is noted mentally
and recorded at sandwich or move car brakes - the record book goes on the
trip. I do not carry a pad an pencil around marking down exact numbers -
keeping score, so to speak. I am very focused in the field, not good
company. I go to collect, observe, cover a lot of territory, with as little
distraction as possible.

I am also usually after a specific thing. If I am going to go to NC or GA
to get E. laeta I am going to be going to its locations and "looking" at
areas (wet road - potential patrol perch, flea bane flowers) where it is
likely to be. I am not going to miss the one or two I might see all day by
allowing myself to be distracted by S. diana. I don't even "see" the other
stuff. When after skippers I rarely look up. When after M. hesseli (with a
25 ft. pole) I rarely look down.
(It's like fishing for bass, or catfish, or flounder, or marlin.)

There is obviously a place and need for structured survey counts -
especially mark and recapture. The various means and methods for those
counts that have been posted here are great. But I find the score card type
of thing is only a field distraction. While one is marking down their
counts for A, B & C, I'll be observing  the one X they just missed seeing
all day. I'll write it all down when I get back to the car as several A,
many B, few C  _and_ one X. (There is a big difference between seeing a
bunch of something and saying there were 25 -35 of them and the effort, and
time, it would take to try an accurtely count that same buch to come up
with 28.) The first takes about 5 seconds, the second at least 10 minutes.

Everyone should keep good field records. And it is certainly fine to say I
saw one or two or three  or four of something - beyond that the attempt at
a specific count (which involves a high degree of concentration to
determine if this or that individual has already been counted) becomes
counterproductive as it detracts from focused observation. There is
observation/collect/stalk mode and there is write-marks-on-paper mode. In
between is refocus/reload mode.

Bottom line. When doing general collecting/observing keep keeping track of
species present, singletons, and general abundance - and not specific
numbers and I bet you'll end up "seeing" a lot more.  This works for me. Do
what works for you. But don't do something just because it is the
"expected" form.

RG


 
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